England ditching paper for plastic … money

Bundles of one hundred zloty notes are seen wrapped in plastic after being counted in the National Bank of Poland's sorting facility in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday, Dec. 31,2010. Poland's central bank may start increasing interest rates in January as the zloty has lost its power to keep inflation in check, Adam Glapinski, a member of the Monetary Policy Council, said yesterday. Photographer: John Guillemin/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

Bundles of one hundred zloty notes are seen wrapped in plastic after being counted in the National Bank of Poland's sorting facility in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday, Dec. 31,2010. Poland's central bank may start ... more

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Egyptian one hundred pound notes are held for an arranged photograph in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. Egypt's benchmark dollar bonds slumped, sending the yield to the highest level since January, after concessions made by the country's military rulers were rejected by protesters demanding a civilian government. Photographer: Shawn Baldwin/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

Egyptian one hundred pound notes are held for an arranged photograph in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. Egypt's benchmark dollar bonds slumped, sending the yield to the highest level since January, ... more

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An employee counts 100 euro notes and mixed denomination ruble notes, left, at the counter of an OAO Sberbank currency exchange in Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. The ruble's strongest start to the year since at least 2004 against the dollar may be threatened after protests against the government this weekend remind investors of political risks, according to Societe Generale SA's Russian unit. Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

An employee counts 100 euro notes and mixed denomination ruble notes, left, at the counter of an OAO Sberbank currency exchange in Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. The ruble's strongest start to the ... more

Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images

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TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SALAM FARAJ
An Iraqi money dealer counts Iranian rial banknotes bearing a portrait of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, at an exchange office in Baghdad on February 3, 2012. Tens of thousands of Iranian visitors have been finding difficulty in using the Iranian currency in Iraq due to a depreciation of the rial against the dollar. AFP PHOTO/ ALI AL-SAADI (Photo credit should read ALI AL-SAADI/AFP/Getty Images) less

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SALAM FARAJ
An Iraqi money dealer counts Iranian rial banknotes bearing a portrait of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, at an exchange ... more

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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Canadian dollar bills and stacks of coins are arranged for a photograph in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Canada?s dollar traded at almost the weakest level in eight months versus its U.S. counterpart amid political turmoil in Europe and before data this week that may show the nation?s economy stalled. Photographer: Pawel Dwulit/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

Canadian dollar bills and stacks of coins are arranged for a photograph in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Canada?s dollar traded at almost the weakest level in eight months versus its ... more

Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Piles of one hundred lira Turkish banknotes are seen in this arranged photograph in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday, April 4, 2013. Turkey's gross domestic product expanded 2.2 percent in 2012, down from 8.8 percent the previous year, according to data released by the statistics office in Ankara on April 1. Photographer: Kerem Uzel/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

Piles of one hundred lira Turkish banknotes are seen in this arranged photograph in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday, April 4, 2013. Turkey's gross domestic product expanded 2.2 percent in 2012, down from 8.8 ... more

Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Sheets of Mexican hundred pesos notes are printed at the Banco de Mexico printing factory in Mexico City, Mexico, on Friday, April 26, 2013. Mexico?s currency strengthened and benchmark peso bonds rose to a record as speculation mounted that global central bank stimulus will encourage foreign investment in the country?s higher-yielding assets. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

Sheets of Mexican hundred pesos notes are printed at the Banco de Mexico printing factory in Mexico City, Mexico, on Friday, April 26, 2013. Mexico?s currency strengthened and benchmark peso bonds rose to a ... more

Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images

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An employee hands over a bundle of Pakistan rupee banknotes in this arranged photograph inside a Barclays Plc bank branch in Karachi, Pakistan, on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013. Barclays, the UK.'s second-largest lender by assets, expects its Pakistan unit to post record profit this year as cost cutting measures help it weather interest rates at a seven-year low. Photographer: Asim Hafeez/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

An employee hands over a bundle of Pakistan rupee banknotes in this arranged photograph inside a Barclays Plc bank branch in Karachi, Pakistan, on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013. Barclays, the UK.'s second-largest ... more

Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Mixed denomination Shekel currency banknotes and coins sit on display in this arranged photograph at Israel's central bank in Jerusalem, Israel, on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. Israel's shekel headed for the weakest level in almost a month on bets the Bank of Israel will continue to buy dollars to stem a rally in the best-performing major currency this year. Photographer: Ariel Jerozolimski/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

South Korean won banknotes of various denominations are arranged for a photograph in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. South Koreas won gained for a second day on speculation exporters sold dollars to meet month-end expenses and government bonds rose as U.S. data tempered concern the Fed will taper its stimulus next month. Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

South Korean won banknotes of various denominations are arranged for a photograph in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. South Koreas won gained for a second day on speculation exporters sold ... more

Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images

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An Indonesian clerk holds a stack of Indonesian rupiah notes at a money changer in Jakarta on August 28, 2013. Indonesia on August 23 announced measures to shore up its economy as Asia's emerging nations come under huge pressure from outflows of foreign cash that have sent their stock markets and currencies plummeting. AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY (Photo credit should read ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images) less

An Indonesian clerk holds a stack of Indonesian rupiah notes at a money changer in Jakarta on August 28, 2013. Indonesia on August 23 announced measures to shore up its economy as Asia's emerging nations come ... more

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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Malaysian fifty ringgit banknotes are arranged for a photograph in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday, Sept. 2, 2013. Malaysias ringgit dropped the most in Asia on speculation that outflows will accelerate on prospects of a reduction in U.S. monetary stimulus this month. Photographer: Sanjit Das/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

Malaysian fifty ringgit banknotes are arranged for a photograph in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday, Sept. 2, 2013. Malaysias ringgit dropped the most in Asia on speculation that outflows will accelerate on ... more

Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images

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A customer counts Indian rupee banknotes at the Umedmal Tilokchand Zaveri jewelry store during the festival of Dhanteras, two days before Diwali, in the Zaveri Bazaar area of Mumbai, India, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Gold purchases in India, the biggest consumer, will probably fall in this years festival season as import curbs reduce supplies and demand cools after surging in April, when prices slumped into a bear market. Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

A customer counts Indian rupee banknotes at the Umedmal Tilokchand Zaveri jewelry store during the festival of Dhanteras, two days before Diwali, in the Zaveri Bazaar area of Mumbai, India, on Friday, Nov. 1, ... more

Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images

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A picture taken on December 11, 2013 in Lille, northern France, shows twenty euro banknotes. In march 2012, there were approximatively 2.7 billions of twenty euro banknotes circulating within the euro zone. AFP PHOTO / DENIS CHARLET (Photo credit should read DENIS CHARLET/AFP/Getty Images) less

A picture taken on December 11, 2013 in Lille, northern France, shows twenty euro banknotes. In march 2012, there were approximatively 2.7 billions of twenty euro banknotes circulating within the euro zone. ... more

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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Japanese 10,000 yen notes are arranged for a photograph in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. The yen fell to a five-year low versus the dollar as the difference in yield between Treasuries and Japanese bonds approached the widest level since April 2011. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

Japanese 10,000 yen notes are arranged for a photograph in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. The yen fell to a five-year low versus the dollar as the difference in yield between Treasuries and Japanese ... more

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USD $10 bills, formally known as Federal Reserve Notes, from 9 of the 12 district banks of the Federal Reserve System on display in the exhibition "The Fed at 100" at the Museum of American Finance December 17, 2013 in New York. The exhibition marks the 100th anniversary of the Fed. First column, top to bottom: A for Boston, B for New York, C for Philadelphia. Second column, top to bottom: D for Cleveland, E for Richmond, F for Atlanta. Third column, top to bottom: G for Chicago, H for St. Louis, I for Minneapolis. The Fed was created on December 23, 1913, with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act, largely in response to a series of financial panics, particularly a severe panic in 1907. Over time, the roles and responsibilities of the Federal Reserve System have expanded and its structure has evolved. Events such as the Great Depression were major factors leading to changes in the system. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) less

USD $10 bills, formally known as Federal Reserve Notes, from 9 of the 12 district banks of the Federal Reserve System on display in the exhibition "The Fed at 100" at the Museum of American Finance December ... more

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 18: A Bank of England employee shows off an example of a new polymer banknote with it's distinctive see-through ring after a news conference with Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney held to announce the outcome of the polymer bank note consultation at the Bank of England on December 18, 2013 in the City of London, England. The Bank believes that the notes are cleaner, more durable and incorporate advanced secutity features making them more difficult to counterfeit. It was announced that the Â£5 note will be released into circulation in 2015, with the Â£10 note likely to follow a year later after the consultation had demonstrated the public's overall support of the new notes. (Photo by Dylan Martinez - WPA Pool/Getty Images) less

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 18: A Bank of England employee shows off an example of a new polymer banknote with it's distinctive see-through ring after a news conference with Governor of the Bank of ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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A picture shows the design concepts for the new polymer ten-pound (R) and five-pound (L) banknotes after a news conference at the Bank of England in the City of London December 18, 2013. The Bank of England unveiled plans to issue plastic bank notes for the first time in its 300-year history, rather than the cotton paper that is currently used, after a public consultation. The new 5 pound polymer bank note will feature Sir Winston Churchill and will be issued in 2016. Around one year later, the bank will issue a Â£10 plastic note that will feature Jane Austen. AFP PHOTO / POOL / DYLAN MARTINEZ (Photo credit should read DYLAN MARTINEZ/AFP/Getty Images) less

A picture shows the design concepts for the new polymer ten-pound (R) and five-pound (L) banknotes after a news conference at the Bank of England in the City of London December 18, 2013. The Bank of England ... more

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs puts up a shot over Miles Plumlee #22 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) less

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs puts up a shot over Miles Plumlee #22 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 in ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Goran Dragic #1 of the Phoenix Suns lays up a shot past Tim Duncan #21 and Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) less

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Goran Dragic #1 of the Phoenix Suns lays up a shot past Tim Duncan #21 and Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Marco Belinelli #3 of the San Antonio Spurs puts up a shot over Miles Plumlee #22 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) less

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Marco Belinelli #3 of the San Antonio Spurs puts up a shot over Miles Plumlee #22 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Miles Plumlee #22 of the Phoenix Suns slam dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) less

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Miles Plumlee #22 of the Phoenix Suns slam dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 in Phoenix, ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Danny Green #4 of the San Antonio Spurs lays up a shot past Goran Dragic #1 Markieff Morris #11 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) less

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Danny Green #4 of the San Antonio Spurs lays up a shot past Goran Dragic #1 Markieff Morris #11 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Miles Plumlee #22 of the Phoenix Suns puts up a shot past Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) less

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Miles Plumlee #22 of the Phoenix Suns puts up a shot past Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 in ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after being called for a foul during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) less

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after being called for a foul during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on December 18, 2013 ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Sydneysider Martin Parry tries unsuccessfully to tear an Australian 50 dollar note which is made of polymer, a durabile, clean and secure banknote that has a protective plastic type of coating to protect it from moisture, water, sweat, oil and other contaminents in Sydney 17 December 2000. The technology of the banknotes, which was developed in Australia where they have been in use since 1988, is now being aimed at Asia where humid and adverse weather conditions prevail with the banknotes lasting much longer than their paper-based counterpart. Bangladesh is the lastest country to start converting to plastic notes. AFP PHOTO/WILLIAM WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images) less

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Sydneysider Martin Parry tries unsuccessfully to tear an Australian 50 dollar note which is made of polymer, a durabile, clean and secure banknote that has a protective plastic type of ... more

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA: A Saudi banker displays the new one hundred riyal banknote bearing the portrait of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud at a bank in Riyadh, 05 June 2007. The banknotes featuring the king are the fifth issue released by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA). AFP PHOTO/HASSAN AMMAR (Photo credit should read HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty Images) less

Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA: A Saudi banker displays the new one hundred riyal banknote bearing the portrait of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud at a bank in Riyadh, 05 June 2007. The banknotes featuring ... more

Bloomberg's Best Photos 2013: A twenty-five bitcoin is arranged for a photograph in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, April 25, 2013. The digital currency, which carries the unofficial ticker symbol of BTC, was unveiled in 2009 by an unidentified programmer, or group of programmers, under the name of Satoshi Nakamoto. Supply is capped at 21 million Bitcoins and managed by a software algorithm embedded into the digital currencys design, rather than a monetary authority such as a central bank. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty Images less

Bloomberg's Best Photos 2013: A twenty-five bitcoin is arranged for a photograph in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, April 25, 2013. The digital currency, which carries the unofficial ticker symbol of BTC, was ... more